Hugs and Misses by Stephen Hug DARRELL SCOTT "Live in NC," by Darrell Scott (Full Light Records)-I became a fan of his a few years back after I met him at the Narrows Center for the Arts when he was Tim O’Brien’s sideman.  His musicianship and singing seemed effortless, natural yet passionate.  I didn’t realize at the time that Darrell’s songwriting talents were pursued by the likes of the Dixie Chicks, Travis Tritt and Garth Brooks-in 2002 he was named ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year.  But he bristles when you ask if his recording and touring are just sidelines. "If I am seen as a sideman and a songwriter, it is because those who see me as such have not taken notice of the 5 solo albums (one with Tim O’Brien) that I have put out," he told me in an email interview I posted on the Narrows blog Backstage at the Narrows. "Meanwhile, I am working on solo albums 6 and 7 which will be finished before this year is up.  And still, I may be seen as a songwriter for others or sideman-go figure."  His latest CD, "Live in NC" will help dispel this notion as he jams his way through his own songs as well as a tune by his father Wayne Scott (see below), who has served as a lifelong inspiration. "I was given a license to play music," he told me.  "It was an acceptable and encouraged way to make a living, and the exposure to great songs (my dad knew what great songwriting was) gave me a huge education in songs."  He also taps into the Johnny Cash songbook, covering "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Still Miss Someone," and "White Freightliner Blues," by Townes Van Zandt.  But don’t expect "three chords and the truth" from Darrell, despite his deep country roots.  He and his support players, bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Kenny Malone, engage in complex improvisations that sound doggone jazzy to these furry ears.  "I usually do not have a set list--I go by how I feel at the time and how it feels in the audience--I make it up as I go--extended improvised guitar solos/bass solos--musical interludes between songs, sometimes running 2, 3 or 4 songs morphed together--mostly my own songs sometimes a cover of others’ great songs--each night is pretty different--it is all singer/songwriter stuff with a lot of improvisation."  4 monster bottle caps for "Live in NC" our highest score.  Darrell is touring (he just played an outstanding-some are saying the "show of the year"-at the Narrows), so maybe you’ll get a chance to see why this guy makes me proud to be Americana. WAYNE SCOTT "This Weary Way" by Wayne Scott (yes, Darrell’s dad) (Full Light Records)-Read the review above for more about 70-something Wayne Scott and his influence on Darrell.  This is Wayne’s first record and a project of Darrell’s to document "one of the most authentic country artists you’ve never heard," as Darrell writes in the CD booklet.  Unlike Darrell’s record, this IS "three chords and the truth," with musical assistance from Guy Clark, Tim O’Brien and others.  Wayne wrote most of the tunes which are mostly about simple pleasures-"Sunday With My Son"-and horrors in life-"I Wouldn’t Live in Harlan County."    Comparisons to Johnny Cash are certainly in order; in fact he does a live version of "Folsom Prison Blues" sounding like a dead-ringer for the Man in Black.  He also reminds me of Claude Diamond, who found a slice of fame later in life, like Wayne.  If you like your country sounding closer to Woody Guthrie’s "Dustbowl Ballads" than Shania Twain’s latest, this is 4 bottle caps.  If the sound of rough vocals whistling through the singer’s teeth makes you nervous, go out and get Shania’s record. THE AVETT BROTHERS "Live, Vol-2," by the Avett Brothers (Ramseur Records)-If your idea of fun is going to a bluegrass concert and screaming "hell ya!" and making obnoxious yelps and screams, and throwing up all over yourself, I may have the CD for you!  Actually, I hated this until I saw the Avetts live-which is why I am convinced "Live, Vol-2" does not work without at least the visual memory.  The group mixes a punkish, in-your-face attitude with bluegrass and a lot of tongue-in-cheek stuff.  It works in concert, not on a live CD.  Too bad, because these guys are very good, with good songs.  Check out their "November Blue" video and you’ll see that, despite "Live, Vol-2" being an obnoxious, cacophonous recording, the Avett Brothers are worth the screams.  If you’ve never seen them, this gets 2 bottle caps; if you’ve seen them and dig their act, maybe 3.  Some of the recording sounds like it might have been done with a cassette machine-in fact, I think they wanted that effect.  Wore down these furry ears, though.